Calmel & Joseph Les Terroirs Corbières 2014, Languedoc, France (£10-£11 Richard Granger, Martinez, Old Chapel Cellars, Ellie’s Cellar) A lovely combo of generous fruit flavours – Victoria plum , apple and blackberry pie, even pomegranate – with perfumed, herby notes and a cool fresh backbone of tannin and fresh acidity. […]
France
Matetic Corralillo Gewurztraminer 2014, San Antonio, Chile (£12.95-£13.55 Armit Wines, Wine Direct) Classic lime/lemon jelly, rose water, lychee aromas, with crystallised orange and ginger notes making their presence felt. Powerful and punchy, but quite dry, so the spice comes more to the fore. Fascinating but not for everyone. S- Morrisons […]
Gewurztraminer from Chile and Alsace
Boutinot ‘Les Cerisiers’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£8.50 Hercules Wine Warehouse, Highbury Vintners) Juicy yet precise style, with rounded red berry, ripe red apple and rosehip flavours kept in check by crisp acidity. B+ Chapoutier ‘Belleruche’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£12.50 Hanging Ditch, Wined Up Here) […]
Two Côtes du Rhône Rosés
A brisk young Bordeaux white for fleshier shellfish dishes… Château de Bonhoste Bordeaux Blanc 2015, France (£8.85 Hourlier Wines) Currently being driven by the precise, bracing nettly grapefruit edge of Sauvignon, but there’s also the more floral aromatic edge of Muscadelle, and some weightier Sémillon, which will come more to the […]
Château de Bonhoste Bordeaux Blanc 2015, France
Cape Heights Shiraz 2015, Western Cape, South Africa (£5.69-£6.95 Rannoch Scott, D&D Wine, Worth Brothers, Connollys) Dark earthy chocolate, gentle generous berry and plum, very much in that soft warm earthy South African feel, with a bit of the Cape bake and a savoury plum/tomato edge. Maybe the finish is […]
Spicy reds from Australia, France, South Africa & Spain
I didn’t taste these side by side, but I’ve ended up giving them all similar marks – would happily drink them all, but none had me jumping out of my seat and shouting ‘Whoopee!’ Vergelegen Premium Chardonnay 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12.49 Majestic, Roberts and Speight, Stewart Wines, Liquid Treasure, Noble Green […]